Material handling toy and track system



Jun 1970 J. w. RYAN ET AL 3,514,895

MATERIAL HANDLING TOY AND TRACK SYSTEM Filed March 24, 1967 7Sheets-Sheet l Valli/W t;

J w we now #0 M980 A MWAVIA/ Jot/1v A d/xan/ Br L I J.W. RYAN ETALMATERIAL HANDLING TOY AND TRACK SYSTEM June 2, 1970 7 sheets sheet 2Filed March 24, 1967 Z? Z .0 wwf WWW 5% June 2, 1970 J w RYAN ET AL3,514,895

MATERIAL HANDLING TOY AND TRACK SYSTEM Filed March 24, 1967 7Sheets-Sheei 5 350 354 I I/JJA y X I ll b I /77 Whiz r025 z .Ta/M w /IV#0 W420 f Milan/M June 2, 1970 J. w. RYAN ET AL 3,

MATERIAL HANDLING TOY AND TRACK SYSTEM Filed March 24, 1967 I 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Alwwzaa Jam/ m /ww I/Iu/iffi Alia MIA Ant/M 2 0114A QW/QW,

J, w, Y ET AL 3,514,895

MATERIAL HANDLING TOY AND TRACK SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 2, 1970Filed March 24, 1967 June 2, 1970' J. w. RYAN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLINGTOY AND TRACK SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 24. 1967 #0101420 AA/iw/my/v AW /I R dew June 2, 1970 J w RYAN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING TOYAND TRACK SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 24, 1967 Adm 0W4 0.50

4 Trot/#73 United States Patent 3,514,895 MATERIAL HANDLING TOY ANDTRACK SYSTEM John W. Ryan and Howard F. Newman, Los Angeles, and LorinP. Olson, Torrance, Califi, assignors t o Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne,Califi, a corporation of Cahfornia Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,809Int. Cl. A63h 33/30 US. C]. 4640 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be setforth in two parts:

Field of the invention The present invention pertains generally to thefield of material handling toys and more particularly to such toys incombination with a track system for automatically directing the toysthrough predetermined material handling operations.

Description of the prior art Material handling toys are known from suchUnited States patents as Einfalt Pat. No. 3,052,059 and Lohr et al. Pat.No. 3,128,977.

The Einfalt patent discloses a train consisting of a self-propelledvehicle and a trailer vehicle which operate on a simulated railroadgoods yard including two tracks mounted on a straight base plate. Thetrain runs on one track until it reaches one end of the base plate wherethe train is reversed and caused to switch over to the other track by afixed diamond switch. The train proceeds on the other track until itreaches the other end of the base plate where it automaticallydischarges a load and reverses its direction proceeding again to saidone end of the base plate on said other track where the train is againreversed. The train then travels in a reverse direction switching overto said one track and travelling to said other end of said base platewhere the load is automatically transferred back to the train.

Although the track system disclosed in this Einfalt patent automaticallydirects the material handling toy through predetermined materialhandling operations, the toy, and track system have the disadvantagethat a child user soon tires of watching the train merel travel back andforth on a single, straight base plate.

This disadvantage is partially overcome by the material handling toy andtrack system disclosed in the Lohr et al. patent where the track systemincludes a closed loop having two sidings provided thereon. The materialhandling toy may be directed into the sidings for uncoupling and loadingoperations. However, the system is not completely automatic relying uponthe skill of a child-user to manipulate a manually operable lever toactuate a trip element for reversing the train from a main line onto thesidings. This track system has the further disadvantage that the loadedmaterial may not be auto matically unloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditionscharacteristic of material handling toys and track systems, it is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a new and usefulmaterial handling toy and track system not subject to the disadvantagesenumerated above and having means for automatically directing a materialhandling toy through predetermined material handling operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and usefulmaterial handling toy and track system which includes a single, pliabletrack adapted to be contoured into ditferent track patterns. Yet anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a toy and track system ofthe type described which includes an elevated dumping station and Alpinegear means for driving the toy onto the dumping station.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and usefulmaterial handling toy and track system which includes an uncouplingstation, a dumping station, a switching station and a pickup station.

According to the present invention, a material handling toy is providedin combination with a track system for automatically directing the toythrough predetermined material-handling operations. The track systemincludes a single, pliable track which may be contoured by hand todefine a number of dilferent paths for the toy to follow. The toy isguided about these paths by a single, castered wheel.

Means are included for connecting the single track together in a systemwhich automatically directs the toy through an elevated dumping stationincluding rack means engageable by Alpine gear means provided on the toyfor giving the toy suificient traction to negotiate the elevated dumpingstation structure. The track system also includes means forautomatically directing the material handling toy under the dumpingstation where the load is automatically reloaded onto the toy.

If desired, the material handling toy may be used in combination with atrailer which will automatically dump its load when the toy againtravels over the dumping station in a reverse direction. In addition,the track system may be provided with an uncoupling station forautomatically uncoupling the trailer from the pulling vehicle and forautomatically becoming reconnected to the trailer after the pullingvehicle is directed through additional material handling operations bythe track system.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to likeelements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of amaterial handling toy and track system constituting a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the material handling toyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pulling-vehicle portion of the toyof FIG. 2 looking in at the bottom thereof and showing the relativepositions of certain portions of'the vehicle during material dumpingoperations;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the toy of FIG. 2showing certain details of construction thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, elevational view, with parts broken away to showinternal construction, of a reversing switch for the toy of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view, with parts broken away to showinternal construction, of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3;

FIG.;7 is an enlarged perspective view of-an elevated dumping stationforming a part of the track system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partial elevational view of the dumping stationshown in FIG. 7 showing the vehicle of FIG. 3 in position thereon;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 1111 ofFIG. 7 schematically showing the relationship of the toy of FIG. 2therewith;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 schematically further showing therelationship of the toy of FIG. 2 therewith;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view showing certaindetails of construction of a portion of the dumping station shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a combined reversing anddumping station shown in the track system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of an uncoupling station shownin the track system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged, partial plan view of the station shown in FIG.15 with parts broken away to show internal construction; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a material handling toy and track systemconstituting a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to thedrawings, and more particular- 1y to FIG. 1, a material handling toy andtrack system constituting a first embodiment of the present invention,

generally designated 10, includes a material handling toy 12 and a tracksystem 14. The track system 14 automatically directs the toy 12 throughpredetermined material handling operations and includes a first tracksection 16 of the single-track, pliable type having a first end 18 and asecond end 20. The end 20 is connected to a first track section 22provided on a Y-connector 24 which is also provided with a second tracksection 26 and a third track section 28. A second pliable track section30 has a first end 32 connected to the second track section 26 and asecond end 34 connected to a first track section 36 provided on acrossing connector 38 which is also provided with a second track section40 lying normal to the track section 36.

The first track section 36 on crossing connector 38 is also connected toa first end 41 of a third pliable track section 42 having a second end44 connected to a first end 46 of a rigid track section 48 provided onan elevated dumping station 50. The rigid track 48 includes a second end52 which is connected to a first end 54 of a fourth pliable track 56having a second end 58 connected to a first rigid track section 60provided on a second Y-connector 62 having second and third "rigid tracksections 64, 66, respectively.

The track system 14 also includes a fifth pliable track section 68having a first end 70 connected to the third rigid track section 66 onY-connector 62 and a second end 72 connected to a first rigid tracksection 74 provided on a second crossing connected 76 which is alsoprovided with a second rigid track section 78 lying normal to the tracksection 74. The first rigid track section 74 is also connected to afirst end 79 of a sixth pliable track section 80 having a second end 82connected to the second track section on crossing connector 38.

The track system 14 also includes a seventh pliable track section '84having a first end 86 connected to the track section 40 and a second end88 connected to a first rigid track section 90 provided on a thirdcrossing connector 92 having a second rigid track section 94 providedthereon. The first rigid track section 90 is also connected to a firstend 96 of an eighth pliable track section 98 having a second end 100connected to the second rigid track section 64 on Y-connector 62. Thesecond rigid track section 94 on cross-connector 92 is connected to afirst end 102 of a ninth pliable track section 104 having a second end106 connected to the second rigid track section on the second crossingconnector 76. The second rigid track section 94 is also connected to afirst end 108 of a tenth pliable track section 110 having a second end112 connected to a first rigid track section 114 provided on anuncoupling station 116.

The uncoupling station 116- includes a mechanical switch 118 having afirst rigid track section 120 connected to the end 18 of the firstpliable track section 16 and a second rigid track section 122 connectedto a first end 124 of an eleventh pliable track section 126 having asecond end 128 connected to a first rigid track section 130 provided ona reversing station 132. A second rigid track section 134 is alsoprovided on the reversing station 132 and is connected to a first end136 of a twelfth pliable track section 138 having a second end 140connected to a second rigid track section 142 provided on the uncouplingstation 116. The second rigid track section 78 on crossing connector 76is also connected to a first end 144 on a thirteenth pliable tracksection 146 having a second end 148 connected to the third track section28 provided on Y- connector 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 26, the material handling toy 12 includes apulling vehicle 150 and a trailing vehicle 152 adapted to beautomatically directed by the track system 14 through predeterminedmaterial handling operations, as will be hereinafter described indetail.

The pulling vehicle 150 is of the self-propelled type and includes achassis 154 and a body 156. The chassis 154 includes a frame 158, a pairof front wheels 160, 162, a pair of rear wheels 164, 166 and a casteredwheel assembly 168. The frame 158 includes a pair of parallel,spacedapart plates 170, 172 each having a front end 174 and a rear end176. The frame 158 may be molded from suitable plastic material in asingle molding step and also includes a pair of front, dependingbifurcated members 178, and a pair of rear, depending brackets 182, 184.

The front wheels 160, 162 are rotatably mounted on an axle 186 having afirst end 188 rotatably and slidably mounted in the bifurcated member178 and a second end 190 rotatably and slidably mounted in thebifurcated member 180. The rear wheels 164, 166 are rotatably mounted ona rear axle 192 having a first end 194 journallcd in a slot 195 providedin bracket 182 and a second end 196 journalled in a slot 197 provided inbracket 184. The wheels 164, 166 carry Alpine gears 198, 200,respectively, (FIG. 6) for rotation thereby.

The chassis 154 also includes an electric motor 282 mounted betweenplates 170, 172 for propelling pulling vehicle 150 through a pair ofoutput shafts 204, 206 extending over wheels 164, 166, respectively. Theshafts 204, 206 may be knurled for increasing friction between shafts204, 206 and the peripheral portion 208 of an associated wheel 164, 166.Alternatively, each shaft may carry a member 210 having a highcoefiicient-of-friction. Since the Alpine gears 198, 200 are rotated byassociated wheel 1'64, 166 which, in turn, are rotated by members 210engaging the outer periphery 208, the members 210, the wheels 164, 166and the gears 198, 200 constitute a gear-reduction means when vehicle150 is propelled by running gears 198, 200 on suitable racks, to behereinafter described, with wheels 164, 166 elevated above the surfaceover which the vehicle 150* travels. Drag on motor 202 is minimized whenvehicle 150 negotiates sharp curves by (1) providing a separate outputshaft for each wheel, (2) rotatably mounting each wheel on axle 192 and(3) mounting axle 192 in slots 195, 197. The electric motor 202 is areversible motor and receives electric current from a dry cell 212 whichis mounted in frame 158 between plates 170 and 172. The dry cell 212 ismaintained in position in frame 158 by a cover member 214 which isremovably connected to frame 158 by suitable latch means, such as thelatch shown at 216 in FIG. 3, and is connected to a reversing switch 218by a pair of leads 220, 222, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. Thereversing switch 218 is connected to motor 202 by a pair of leads 224,226 which, in turn, are each connected to a pair of electrical contacts228, 230- and 232, 234, respectively for selectively reversing thepolarity of battery 212 with respect to motor 202 for reversing it. Theswitch 218 includes a base plate 236 on which a toggle 238 is pivotallymounted by a pin 240. The toggle 238 carries a first electrical contact242 which extends between the contacts 228 and 23-2 and a secondelectrical contact 244 which extends between the contacts 230 and 234.The contact 242 includes an end 246 which is connected to the lead 222and the contact 244 includes an end 248 which is connected to the lead220. The toggle 238 is pivoted on pin 240 by a lever and spring assembly250 including an actuating lever 252, which is mounted on pin 240, and acompression spring 254 having a first end 256 seated in a cavity 257,provided in lever 252, and a second end 258 connected to toggle 238 by aball element 260. The ball 260 is slidably mounted in a slot 262provided in toggle 23 8 and is moved to the position shown in FIG. 5under the influence of spring 254 when lever 252 is swung in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 5, and is moved to the other end 264 ofslot 262 when lever 252 is swung in a counterclockwise direction. Whenball 20 is moved to its FIG. 5 position, spring 252 creates a coupleabout pivot pin 240 pivoting toggle 238 in a counterclockwise directionfor bringing contact 242 into engagement with contact 232 and contact244 into engagement with contact 230 to operate motor 202 in onedirection. When ball 260 is moved to end 264 of slot 262, toggle 238 isrotated in a clockwise direction bringing contact 242 into engagementwith contact 228 and contact 244 into engagement with contact 234 forreversing the direction of rotation of motor 202. The spring 254consittutes an over-centre device for moving the ball 260 to the ends ofslot 262 as soon as lever 252 is moved past a predetermined centralposition and is held captive in lever 252 by a pair of pins 266, 268.The lever 252 may be moved to an off position, as shown in FIG. 5, bypivoting it further in a clockwise direction after ball 260 has reachedits FIG. 5 position so that a pin 270, carried by lever 252, will movecontact 244 from engagement with contact 230* to the intermediateposition shown in FIG. 5 where contact 244 lies between contacts 230 and234.

The Wheel assembly 168 includes a wheel 272 having a peripheral groove274 adapted to engage the track sections forming track system 14 forguiding the vehicle 150 around the various paths provided by the tracksystem 14. The wheel 272 is rotatably mounted in a fork assembly 276 byan axle 278 and is given rotation about a vertical about a vertical axisby rotatably mounting the fork assembly 276 on frame 158 by suitablepivot means (not shown).

The body 156 includes a simulated truck cab 280 having a simulated frontbumper 282, a simulated mud guard 284 and simulated windows 286, all ofwhich may be integrally formed a from a suitable plastic material duringa molding operation.

The body 156 also includes a dump box 288 having a front wall 290,parallel side walls 292, 294, a bottom wall 296 and a swingable tailgate298. The box 288 is pivotally connected to ends 176 of plates 170, 172by a pair of pins, like the one shown at 300 in FIG. 3, engagingdepending tabs, like the one shown at 302 in FIG. 3, affixed to bottomwall 296 adjacent tailgate 298. The box 288 may be swung from theposition shown in FIG. 2 to the elevated position shown in FIG. 3 byengaging a simulated tool box 304, which is carried by the box 28 8,with a simulated guard rail 306, as shown in FIG. 10, which is providedon the elevated dumping station 50. When so elevated, the box 288 willautomatically discharge material, such as a plurality of marbles 308(FIG. 10) which are directed to a discharge opening 310 provided in ahopper 312 formed in box 288 by a rearwardly and downwardly slopingportion 314 of bottom wall 296 and parallel hopper walls 316, 318provided in box 288. The hopper walls 316, 318 each includes a narrowfront portion 320 and a wide rear portion 322 connected together by atransition section 324. The path of travel of the marbles 308 as theyleave box 288 is controlled by a pair of baffie plates 326, 328 providedon tailgate 298. The dump box 288 includes a camming surface 330 formedby a simulated guard plate 332 connected to front wall 290 and extendingover cab 280. The tailgate 298 is automatically opened when the box 288is elevated by a push rod 334 having a first end 336 engaging tailgate298 and a second end 338 connected to a first end 340 of a rod 342having a second end 344 seated in a socket 346 provided in bottom wall296.

The trailing vehicle 152 is of the four-wheeled type having a pair offront wheels, like the one shown at 348 in FIG. 2, and a pair of rearwheels 350, 352 rotatably connected to a trailer body 354 by suitablemeans (not shown). The trailer body 354 includes a front Wall 356, abottom wall 358, a pair of side walls 360, 362 and a swingable tailgate364. The bottom wall 358 slopes rearwardly and downwardly to a dischargeopening 366 formed in body 354 adjacent tailgate 364 by hopper walls368, 370 for discharging suitable material, such as marbles 308, frombody 354 when tailgate 364 is swung to an open position by an L-shapedarm 372 extending outwardly from tailgate 364. The arm 372 includes adepending finger 374 engageable with a second guard rail 376 (FIG. 12)provided on the elevated dumping station 50 for camming the tailgate 364to an open position. The body 354 also includes a camming surface 378formed by a simulated guard plate 380' extending forwardly from frontwall 356.

The trailing vehicle 152 may be releasably connected to the pullingvehicle by a tongupe 382 having a first end 384 (FIG. 4') pivotallyconnected to body 354 by a bushing 386 which is journalled in a pair offlanges 388, 389 affixed to body 354. The tongue 382 includes a free end392 which carries a frusto-conical member 394 en gageable between afixed jaw 396 and a swingable jaw 398 of a trailer hitch 400 afiixed tothe end 176 of plates 170, 172 on frame 158.

The fixed jaw 396 is carried by a beam 402 having a first end 404afiixed to end 176 of plate (FIG. 3) and a second end 406 (FIG. 4)afiixed to end 176 of plate 172. The fixed jaw 396 includes a pair ofparallel arms 408, 410 each having an end 412 affixed to beam 402 and afree end 414 which is bevelled, as indicated at 416 in FIG. 4. Theswingable jaw 398 is carried by a substantially U-shaped member 418having a bight portion 420 and parallel arms 422, 424. The arms 422, 424each includes a free end 426 which is pivotally connected to frame 158by a pivot pin 428 engaging a tab 430' carried by frame 158. Theswingable jaw 398 includesa bight portion 432 and parallel arms 434, 436and is biased into engagement with fixed jaw 396 by a spring member 438having a first end 440 connected to member 418 and a second end 442connected to beam 402. The underside 444 of swingable jaw 398 isbevelled, as indicated at 446 in FIG. 4, so that the frusto-conicalmember 394 will spread swingable jaw 398 away from fixed jaw 396automatically moving to a locked position between jaws 396-, 398 whenmember 394 is impacted by hitch 400.

The hitch 400 also includes an automatic uncoupling means 450 having anuncoupling lever 452 swingably connected by a pin 453 to a depending tab454 carried by the free end 422 of member 418. The lever 452 carries acam 456 at its end above pin 453 and an arcuate finger 458 below pin453. The cam 456 is adapted to engage a plate 460 when lever 452 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, to swingmember 418 about its pivot pins 428 for opening swingable jaw 398 torelease member 394. However, when lever 452 is swung in a clockwisedirection the cam 456 does not engage plate 460 so that the member 418is not swung. The automatic uncoupling means 450 is adapted toautomatically uncouple the trailing vehicle 152 from the pulling vehicle150 at the uncoupling station 116 by engaging finger 458 with anupstanding peg 462, provided on uncoupling station 116, when the pullingvehicle 150 is travelling in the direction of arrow 464 (FIG. 4). Thepulling vehicle 150 may then be reconnected to the trailing vehicle 152by reversing the direction of travel of the pulling vehicle 150 toengage the hitch 400 with the member 394. Damage to the member 418 atthis time is minimized by a plate 466 which is aflixed to beam 402 in anupstanding position in front of member 418.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-13, the elevated dumping station 50 includes abridge 468 having a first end 470 supported by a first pedestal 472 anda second end 474 supported by a second pedestal 476. The bridge 468includes a bed 478 having a substantially horizontal intermediateportion 480 and downwardly sloping ends 482, 484 to which first, secondand third sections 486, 488 and 490, respectively, of track 48 areafiixed. The intermediate portion 480 of bed 478 includes a first edgeportion 492 to which the simulated guard rail 306 and a firstmaterial-handling hopper 494 are affixed and a second edge portion 496to which the second simulated guard rail 376 and a secondmaterial-handling hopper 498 are afilxed. The hoppers 494 and 498 eachincludes a depressed floor 500 which slopes downwardly and outwardly toa discharge opening 502 provided therein and an encompassing wall 504for guiding suitable material, such as the marbles 308, to an associateddischarge opening 502. Discharge of material from each hopper 494, 498is controlled by a discharge gate 506 swingably connected to anassociated wall 504 by a pair of pivot pins 508, 510 and biased to aclosed position by a spring 512. Each gate 506 may be swung to an openposition for discharging material from an associated hopper 494, 498 byengaging a depending tab 514 provided thereon with the camming surfaces330, 378 provided on the pulling vehicle 150 and the trailing vehicle152, respectively. Marbles 308 are prevented from rolling off end 474 ofedge portion 492 by an L-shaped baffie board 516 having a first end 518afiixed to guard rail 306 and a second end 520 extending into engagementwith an upstanding rack means 522 extending across bridge 468 adjacentrigid track 48. A second baffle board 524 extends from the guard rail376 into engagement with a second rack means 526 extending across bridge468 adjacent rigid track 48 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship withthe first rack means 522. The rack means 522, 526 each includes aplurality of teeth 528 engageable with the Alpine gears 198, 200 onpulling vehicle 150 for elevating the wheels 164, 166 out of engagementwith bed 478 of bridge 468 to reduce the speed of vehicle 150 as ittravels across bridge 468 assuring satisfactory dumping operations whensimulated tool box 304 rides up on trail 306 to elevate box 288.

The elevated dumping station 50 also includes a first ramp 530 having afirst end 532 connected to end 474 of bridge 468 and a second end 534which carries the first end 46 of rigid track 48 having a section 536extending along ramp 530 in alignment with section 490 of track 48 onbridge 468. The third and fourth rack means 538, 540 are provided onramp 530 in alignment with first and second rack means 522, 526,respectively, and include a plurality of teeth 542 engageable by Alpinegears 198, 200 for reducing the gear ratio and improving the traction ofvehicle when it climbs ramp 530 to gain access to bridge 468.

The elevated dumping station also includes a second ramp 544 having afirst end 546 connected to end 470 of bridge 468 and a second end 548provided with the second end 52 of track 48 having a section 550extending across ramp 544 in alignment with section 488. Fifth and sixthrack means 552, 554 extend across ramp 544 in alignment with racksections 522, 526, respectively, and include teeth 556 engageable byAlpine gears 198, 200 for reducing the gear ratio and increasing thetraction of vehicle 150 as it climbs ramp 544.

When vehicle 150 travels across bridge 468 in the direction of arrow556, the simulated tool box 304 will engage rail 306, as shown in FIGS.10 and 11, elevating box 288 so that marbles 308 will be dischargedthrough opening 310 and directed into hopper 498 by baflle 326 ontailgate 298. The arm 372 on trailing vehicle 152 bypasses rail 306 sothat material carried in the trailing vehicle 152 is not dumped. Whenvehicles 150, 152 travel across bridge 468 in the direction of arrow558, on the other hand, tool box 304 bypasses rail 376, as shown in FIG.11, and arm 372 engages rail 376, as shown in FIG. 12, swinging tailgate364 to an open position so that material contained in trailer body 354will be dumped into hopper 494. After dumping their loads, the vehicles150, 152 are directed, by the track system 14 in a manner to behereinafter described, under the hoppers 494, 498. As the pullingvehicle 150 approaches the tab 514 on a particular hopper, an associatedrack means, like the ones shown at 560 and 561, respectively, in FIGS. 1and 7 in association with the tab 514, engages Alpine gears 198, 200 toreduce the speed of the vehicles 150, 152 sufliciently that theassociated hoppers 494, 498 will have time to discharge its storedmarbles when one of the camming surfaces 330, 378 swings an associatedgate 506 to an open position. The camming surface 378 and the tab 514 onhopper 494 are at a higher elevation than the camming surface 330 andthe tab 514 and the hopper 498 so that the hopper 498 will be dischargedinto the pulling vehicle 150 and the hopper 494 will be discharged intothe trailing vehicle 152.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 15 and 16, the uncoupling station 116 includesa base plate 562 having a first end 564, a second end 566 and anintermediate portion 568 upon which the rigid track section 114, themechanical switch 118 and the second rigid track section 142,respectively, are mounted. The track section 114 is mounted between apair of caging blocks 570', 572 which are mounted on end 564 for cagingthe rear wheels 350, 352 on trailing vehicle 152 when pulling vehicle150* pulls trailing vehicle 152 onto plate 562 in the direction of arrow464 so that uncoupling lever 452 (FIG. 2) will engage peg 462 uncouplingtrailing vehicle 152. The track section 114 includes an end 574 whichlies adjacent a rigid track section 576 provided on the intermediateportion 568 and having an end 578 lying adjacent an end 580 of tracksection 142 and adjacent a deflector 582. The deflector 582 directsvehicle 150 onto a rigid track section 584 from track sections 142 and576. The track section 584 includes an end 586 lying adjacent a fixedend 588 of a swingable track section 590 swingably mounted on mechanicalswitch 118 by a pivot pin 592 for directing vehicle 150 from tracksection 584 to track section 122 when the swingable track section 590 isswung to the broken line positionshown in FIG. 16 by a push rod 594. Thepush rod 594 includes a first end 596 and a second end 598 and isreciprocally mounted in the base plate 562 by a plurality of U-shapedclips 600. The end 598 carries an upstanding lug 602 positioned adjacentend 564 of base plate 562 for engagement by a first depending tab 604,provided on vehicle 150 (FIG. 3), for pushing rod 594 against swingabletrack section 590 to swing it to the broken line position shown in FIG.16 when vehicle 150 enters end 564 travelling in the direction of arrow464. When push rod 594 reaches the end of its track swinging stroke, thewheel 272 (FIG. 3) of vehicle 150 will ride up on an elevated portion606 of track section 114 permitting depending tab 604 to clear lug 602.The push rod 594 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 15 byswingable track section 590 when it is swung from the broken lineposition shown in FIG. 16 to its solid line position by another push rod608 having a first end 610 engageable with track section 590 and asecond end 612 which carries an upstanding lug 614. The push rod 608 isreciprocally mounted on the base plate 562 by a pair of U-shaped clips616, 618 and is pushed into engagement with track section 590 by asecond depending tab 619 provided on vehicle 150 (FIG. 3) when vehicle150 is directed onto track section 584 after entering track section 142in the direction of arrow 620. After vehicle 150 has pushed rod 608sufficiently to swing track section 590 to its FIG. 16 position,actuating lever 252 on reversing switch 218 engages a fixed pin 622provided on base plate 562 causing the vehicle 150 to reverse itsdirection of travel and back into engagement with member 394 on tongue382 for reconnecting the trailing vehicle 152 to vehicle 150. Duringthis backing operation, the speed of vehicle 150 may be retarded by arack means 624 mounted on base plate 562 for engagement by the Alpinegear 200'. A pair of curved, guide rails 626, 628 are mounted on baseplate 562 for guiding the rear wheels 164, 166 of vehicle 150 intoproper alignment with member 394 on tongue 382. A short track section629 accommodates wheel assembly 168 at this time. The rack means 624 iscarried by a bracket 630 having a lug 632 engageable by actuating lever252 on reversing switch 218 for again reversing vehicle 150 so it willtravel forwardly after picking up the trailing vehicle 152. Since theswingable track section 590 was previously swung to its FIG. 16 positionby the push rod 608, vehicle 150 and trailer 152 will leave uncouplingstation 116 by following track sections 629, 584, 590 and 120. Thevehicles will then move onto end 18 of track section 16. Proper swingingmovements of the track section 590 are assured by an over-centre spring634.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 14, the reversing station 132 includes abase plate 636 upon which the rigid track sections 130, 134 are mounted.The track section 130 is aligned with a crossing section 638 and anarcuate section 640 having an end 642 lying adjacent a directing member644 which directs a vehicle 150 travelling in the direction of arrow 646on to a short track section 648 aligned with end 642 of arcuate tracksection 640. The short track section 648 is aligned with a secondcrossing section 650 and a curved track section 652 having an end 654aligned with a track section 656 which is mounted on base plate 636adjacent a stop member 658 adapted to be engaged by actuating lever 252on reversing switch 218 when vehicle 150 travels on track section 656 inthe direction of arrow 646. This reverses vehicle 150 onto a tracksection 660 having a first end 662 positioned adjacent track sections652 and 656 and a second end 664 positioned adjacent a short tracksection 666 aligned with crossing 638 for directing vehicle 150 acrosscrossing 638 and onto a track section 668 aligned with crossing section638 at right angles to section 130. Thus, the vehicle 150 backs alongtrack section 660 in the direction of arrow 670 and backs into a dumpingstation 672 including parallel racks 674, 676 which reduce the speed ofvehicle 150 while the simulated tool box 304 engages a ramp 678elevating box 288 dumpingsuitable material contained therein, such asmarbles 308, into a storage box 680. At this time, reversing switch 218on vehicle 150 is actuated by a tab 682 provided on base plate 636 indumping station 672 causing vehicle 150 to move forwardly in thedirection of arrow 684. As vehicle 150 moves forwardly in the directionof arrow 684, track section 666 directs vehicle 150 onto a curved tracksection 686 which, in turn, directs vehicle 150 onto the second crossingsection 650 from whence vehicle 150 travels onto a track section 688.The track section 688 includes an end 690 which is positioned adjacentan end 692 on track section 134 and an end 694 of directing member 644.The end 694 directs vehicle wheel 272 onto end 692 of section 134 fromwhence vehicle 150 travels onto the twelfth pliable track section 138 inthe direction of arrow 696. The vehicle 150- then travels along tracksection 138 to uncoupling station 116 and picks up trailing vehicle 152.The vehicles 150 and 152 then leave uncoupling station 116 on the firstpliable track section 16 traveling in the direction of arrow 698. Duringtravel in this direction, the box 680 may be removedfrom dumping station672 and emptied into vehicle 150. The vehicle 150 may then be stopped bymoving switch 218 to its off position or, alternatively, the vehicle 150may be permitted to travel through another cycle of material handlingoperations. The box 680- is mounted in a recess 700 provided in dumpingstation 672 behind ramp 678, racks 674, 676 and a guide rail 702. Theguide rail 702 has a curved, forward portion 704 which cooperates with acurved portion 706 on rack 674 to guide the rear wheel 166 on vehicle150 into a proper position in dumping station 672. In like manner, acurved section 708 on ramp 678 and a curved section 710 on rack 676guide rear wheel 164 into position. Additional guidance is given therear wheels 166, 164 by guide rails 712, 714, respectively, which areprovided on base plate 636 forwardly of and approximately centredbetween associated curved portions 704, 706 and sections 708, 710',respectively.

Operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in connection with FIG. 1. A child-user of the materialhandling toy and track system 10 may be instructed to place the pullingvehicle 150 and the trailing vehicle 152 on the pliable track section 16to the left of connector 24, as viewed in FIG. 1, facing in thedirection of arrow 698. The trailing vehicle 152 may then be connectedto the pulling vehicle 150 which may be energizer by switch 218 to moveforwardly onto connector 24 where track section 22 directs wheel 272 ofvehicle 150 onto track section 26 which, in turn, directs vehicle 150onto pliable track section 30. The vehicles 150, 152 travel along tracksection 30 in the direction of arrow 698 to crossing connector 38 wheretrack section 36 directs vehicle 150 onto pliable track section 42 whichdirects the vehicle 150 onto the ramp 530. Vehicle 150 pulls trailingvehicle 152 up ramp 530 and across bridge 468. As vehicle 150 crossesbridge 468, simulated tool box 304 engages simulated guard rail 306elevating box 288 dumping marbles 308 into hopper 498. The vehicles 150,152 then travel down ramp 544 and onto track section 56 travelling inthe direction of arrow 716. Section 56 directs vehicles 150', 152 ontoconnector 62 where track section 60 directs wheel 272 onto track section66 causing vehicles 150, 152 to travel onto track section 68 in thedirection of arrow 716. Vehicles 150, 152 then travel across connector76 onto track section 80' and across connector 38 onto track section 84following a path defined by arrow 716. Track section 84 directs vehicles152 across rack means 561 where the speed of Vehicle 150 is reducedwhile camming surface 330 on vehicle 150 swings gate 506 to an openposition discharging marbles 308 from hopper 498 into the vehicle 150while vehicles 150, 152 continue travelling toward end 88 of tracksection 84. The vehicles 150, 152 are then directed across connector 92onto flexible track section 98 traveling along a path defined by arrows716 to connector 62 which directs the vehicles 150, 152 onto tracksection 56 travel ling toward elevated dumping station 50. Vehicles 150,152 then leave track section 56 and climb ramp 544 onto bridge 468. Asvehicles 150, 152 travel across bridge 468, arm 372 on trailing vehicle152 engages simulated guard rail 376 swinging tailgate 364 open todischarge marbles 308 into hopper 494. Vehicles 150, 152 continuetravelling across bridge 468 during this dumping operation and proceeddown ramp 530 to track section 42 travelling in the direction of arrow718. The vehicles 150, 152. then cross connector 38 and move onto tracksection 30 following a path defined by arrows 720 until the vehiclesreach connector 24 where track section 26 directs them onto tracksection 28 which, in turn, directs them onto track section 146. Thevehicles 150, 152 travel along track section 146 and across connector 76onto track section 104 following a course defined by arrows 720. Thetrack section 104 leads vehicles 150, 152 across rack means 560 whichreduces the speeds of vehicles 150, 152 sufficiently that the marbles inhopper 494 will have time to discharge into trailer body 354 whencamming surface 378 swings gate 506 to an open position. After leavingrack means 560, the vehicles continue travelling on track section 104 toend 102 where vehicles 150, 152 cross connector 92 onto track section110 and travel therealong following a path defined by arrows 722 to theuncoupling station 116 where trailing vehicle 152 is disconnected fromvehicle 150 which travels across station 116 to track section 126 alongwhich it travels following a path defined by arrows 724 to reversingstation 132.

When vehicle 150 reaches reversing station 132, it is reversed in amanner heretofore described and dumps its load into box 680. The vehicle150 then moves forwardly out of dumping station 672 and onto tracksection 138 which it follows in the direction of arrow 726 to uncouplingstation 116 where it again becomes coupled to the trailing vehicle 152and leaves uncoupling station 116 on track 16 ready to repeat thematerial handling operations.

Referring now to FIG. 17, a material handling toy and track systemconstituting a second embodiment of the present invention, generallydesignated a, includes a pliable track member 728 Which has a first end730 connected to ramp 530 on elevated dumping station 50 and a secondend 732 connected to the ramp 544 on the elevated dumping station 50.The track member 728 may then be arranged in a FIG. 8 pattern with onerun 734 thereof passing under dumping station 50 and the rack means 560.

In use, the pulling vehicle 150 may be placed on track member 728 facingin the direction of arrow 736 on the right hand side of ramp 530, asviewed in FIG. 17. The vehicle 150 may then be energized so that it runsin the direction of arrow 736 passing over elevated dumping station 50,around a path defined by arrows 738, over rack means 560, under elevateddumping station 50 and back to a point of beginning adjacent the righthand side of dumping station 50. The vehicle 150 will automatically dumpits marbles into hopper 498 on elevated dumping station 50 each timevehicle 150 passes thereover and will automatically be reloaded withmarbles 308 when vehicle 150 passes under dumping station 50.

While the particular material handling toys and track systems hereinshown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objectsand providing the advantages hereirrbefore stated, it is to beunderstood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A material handling toy and track system combination, comprising:

a self-propelled vehicle including means for hauling a material to behandled by said toy and dumping means for automatically dumping saidmaterial from said vehicle;

a track system for automatically directing said vehicle on apredetermined course, said track system including a plurality of curvedsections defining a closed, endless path; and

material handling means connected to said track system in the path oftravel of said vehicle, said material handling means including means forautomatically actuating said dumping means on said vehicle, means fordirectly receiving and holding dumped material, and means forautomatically reloading said material onto said vehicle during continuedtravel of said vehicle on said track system, said material handlingmeans including an elevated dumping station having said actuating meansprovided thereon and including hopper means for receiving and holdingsaid material dumped from said vehicle, said track system includingmeans for directing said vehicle under said elevated dumping stationafter said material has been dumped into said hopper means, saidreloading means comprising a gate swingably connected to said hoppermeans for actuation by said vehicle when it travels under said elevateddumping station.

2. A combination as stated in claim 1 including a trailing vehicleconnected to said self-propelled vehicle, said trailing vehicleincluding means for automatically dumping material therefrom, saidelevated dumping station in cluding means for automatically actuatingsaid trailer dumping means when said trailing vehicle travels over saidelevated dumping station in a direction opposite to that travelled bysaid self-propelled vehicle When it is caused to dump its material intosaid hopper means, said elevated dumping station including storage meansfor receiving material dumped from said trailing vehicle, said tracksystem including means for automatically directing said vehicles undersaid storage means after said trailer dumping means has been actuated,said reloading means including swinga'ble means connected to saidstorage means and engageable by said trailing vehicle when it travelsunder said storage means to release said dumped material from saidstorage means.

3. A combination as stated in claim 2 including an uncoupling stationconnected in said track system for uncoupling said trailing vehicle fromsaid self-propelled vehicle without interrupting the travel of saidselfpropelled vehicle on said predetermined course.

4. A combination as stated in claim 3 including a re versing stationconnected in said track system for receiving said self-propelled vehicleafter it leaves said uncoupling station and for reversing saidself-propelled vehicle into a dumping position, said reversing stationincluding means for actuatng said dumping means on said self-propelledvehicle automatically when said self-propelled vehicle is reversed onsaid reversing station, said track system including a track sectionconnecting said reversing station to said uncoupling station fordirecting said self-propelled vehicle back to said uncoupling stationafter said selfpropellcd vehcle has been reversed and dumped at saidreversing station, said uncoupling station including means forautomatically coupling said trailing vehicle to said self-propelledvehicle and for directing said coupled vehicles back onto said tracksystem.

5. A combination as stated in claim 4 wherein said sections of saidtrack system comprise single, pliable track sections and wherein saidself-propelled vehicle includes a single, castered wheel for followingsaid pliable track sections.

6. A combination as stated in claim 5 wherein said self- 13 propelledvehicle includes Alpine gear means and wherein said material handlingmeans includes rack means engageable by said Alphine gear means forreducing the speed of said self-propelled vehicle during dumping andreloading operations.

7. A combination as stated in claim 6 wherein said means forautomatically dumping said material from said self-propelled vehiclecomprises a dump box pivotally mounted on said self-propelled vehicleand a simulated tool box carried by said dump box in a position toengage said actuating means on said material handling means for swingingsaid dump box to a dumping position.

8. A combination as stated in claim 7 wherein said selfpropelled vehicleincludes a frame having a pair of rear wheel-supporting bracketsdepending therefrom, each of said brackets having an elongated slotprovided therein, an axle rotatably mounted in said slots, a pair ofrear wheels rotatably mounted on said axle, said Alpine gears beingaflixed to said rear wheels, and an electric motor mounted in saidframe, said motor having an output shaft extending over each of saidrear wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,119 7/1957 Bonanno 46243 XR2,882,644 4/ 1959 Bonanno et al. 462l6 XR 2,977,713 4/1961 Alelyunas46-21 6 XR 3,016,024 1/1962 Silver 46-216 XR 3,117,755 1/1964 Kretzmer46-216 XR 3,128,977 4/ 1964 Lohr et a1. 46-216 XR F. BARRY SHAY, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

